istock3Why are Domains Important?
A domain name is the often the first thing a consumer will think of when looking for a website. The domain acts as both a slogan and name for a business and is the first impression made online to the customer. The process of choosing a domain name should not be taken likely, while a good choice can be a great asset, a poor choice can hinder the brand and hold a company back.

How Does Domain Choice Affect My Business?
Many people will simply guess a domain name that might help them find what they are looking for rather than using a search engine. By registering domains that are representative of what customers are typing in to their address bars, and redirecting them to the primary address, a business can attract new clients they may have otherwise missed.

Domain name choice has an effect on search engine results as well. When someone searches Google or Yahoo for a specific phrase, search engines often rank a closely matched domain name quite high in the search rankings—assuming the domain points to a developed page or website. Since search engines also take into account the age of a domain name and website when compiling rankings, it can be helpful to set up some form of a website on potentially useful domain names—and the sooner the better.

What Should I Consider When Choosing a Domain Name?
There are many factors that go into choosing a good domain name. What is right for each business depends on the branding strategy and industry specifics, but some things for all businesses to consider are listed here:

Characteristics to Consider

  • Does the domain name include a popular keyword or keyword phrase?
  • Is the domain unique and brandable?
  • Is it available with the dot-com suffix?
  • Will people be able to remember and type it?
  • Are there any shorter domain names that still accomplish your online goals?
  • Does the domain have any copyright issues?

Characteristics to Avoid

  • Confusing Acronyms and Long Words
  • Hyphens and Numbers
  • Overlapping Words (for example - www.saleshack.com could be read as “sales hack” or “sale shack”